We have been here a month, but nothing has happened worth reporting. IⒶemendation have had plenty of colds & rheumatism, & consequently my work has stood still; but tomorrow I expect to begin. Livy & the children have tolerably good health, but nothing extraordinary.

By a letter rec’dⒶemendation by Miss Clara from our good Baroness Freundenberg, we judge that Sam is coming to Paris about a month from now. We shall be glad to have him here, but I am sorry he does not stay a month or two more with the Baroness, for he cannotⒶemendation have so good an opportunity to learn the language again.Ⓐemendation I will translate what the Baroness says about Sam, whereby you will see what impression he has made:

“WeⒶemendation are all very fond of Mr. Moffett:Ⓐemendation he is a young man of Ⓐemendation uncommon intellect & culture, & yet so modest & good that I already think with pain of the time when he will leave us. He reads a great deal, but prefers not to write. He has made great progress in these 4 weeks,Ⓐemendation & as he is to remain 4 weeks longer I hope he will speak very good German by that time.”Ⓐemendation

The great trouble with Sam is that he “reads a great deal” & “prefersⒶemendation not to write.” To write the language is useful,—Ⓐemendationto read it is more an injury thanⒶemendation a benefit. To speak it,Ⓐemendation & write it, & never read it, is the right course.

Sam has written Miss Clara a bright letter in German, and as bright a one to Livy in English.

I thought Sam promised me he would read only one day in the week, but doubtless he didn’t. It would be the best thing for him.

Livy & Clara are out—Rosa has just gone to dinner, so I must stop writing & take care of the children. Good bye—with love.

(From Bay to Grandma. Her exact language.)

Well, that I’ve got a dress, & a new one, & is silk & got gold buttons, & thatⒶemendation I’m bigger’n thicker’n I was before, & that I got a great big doll, & that t’isn’t broken yet; & that I got a horse, & its broken; the car came off it, & that its car is broken, & that I know how to take it (the ear) out; & two legs is broken, & his tail is come out.

I had a hard pinch in my finger: that I was looking in the looking-glass door & Rosa closed the looking glass; & sometimes Susie plays with my things & I get a-fighting at her. That’s all, now, that I can write.

And that all my names is Clara Lewis O’Day Botheker McAleer McLachlin Bay Clemens. (Her wet-nurses.)